Safety device for firing mechanism



May 22, 1934.

J. D. PEDERSEN SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIRING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24, 1931 IN VEN TOR. JoH/v Z7. P12R 55 BY x4 9M ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 22, 1934 more srA'res PATENT Application October 24,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a safety device for the firing mechanism of fire arms adapted for use in all types of trigger-operated fire arms. In its present form, the invention is illustrated for use with a semi-automatic rifle of the type shown in my previous application Serial No. 492,030.

The particular object of the invention is to provide a safety device which, when adjusted to itssafe or on position, will not only block the firing mechanism from operation but will also give a warning to the marksman which cannot be ignored when he attempts to fire the piece. It frequently happens in competitive target shooting that the marksman, after carefully laying his sights upon the target, will attempt to pull the trigger and then find that he has inadvertently left the safety on, and of course in readjusting the safety for firing he loses his carefully prepared aim and must align his sights over again. Such an objectionable occurrence will be entirely avoided by use of the present safety device which, when in its safe position, provides a portion for extending into the space normally occupied by the finger in pressing the trigger. The marksman therefore will not be able to place his finger properly in position for firing when the safety is on, and will thereby be warned to throw the safety into off position before taking careful aim.

Referring to the drawing, which shows a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a firing mechanism mounted on a detachable guard frame of the type shown in my previous application referred to. In this view the safety device is shown in its off position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the same parts shown in Fig. l, with the safety device adjusted to its on position;

Fig. 3 is a detached view of the safety device;

Fig. 4 is a detached view of the trigger; and

Fig. 5 is a detached view of the firing spring base.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 indicates the trigger guard frame adapted to carry thereon the firing mechanism as shown. This trigger guard may be secured to a rifle in the manner shown in my previous application referred to. It will be noted that the firing mechanism herein shown is of the swinging hammer type rather than of the sliding striker type described in the application referred to, but this change in design in no way alters the principle of the safety device as regards its action on the trigger of said firing mechanism.

1931, Serial No. 570,826

, The trigger guard frame has the usual trigger guard or bowed portion 2 (as shown) surrounding the trigger, indicated at 3. The trigger is pivotally mounted on the trigger pin 4, and a forward extension 5 of said trigger is articulated within the forked rear end 6 of a sear '7, which sear is pivotally mounted on the sear pin 8. The scar nose or hook 9 is adapted to engage the notch 10 of the hammer 11 pivoted on the hammer pin 12. An escapement pawl 13 is pivotally carried on the sear '7 and is controlled by a pawl spring 14 for suitable escapement action with respect to arm 15 of the hammer 11. This escapement action is of the well understood sort for the control of single shot firing with a semi-automatic rifle and need not be further described.

The firing spring 16 is mounted upon hammer rod 1'7, the forward end of which is pivotally connected at 18 to the hammer and the rear end 19 of which extends slidably through the firing spring base 20. It will be understood that the firing spring bears at its rear end against the base 20 and at its forward end against a shoulder on said hammer rod 1'7, thus tending to rock the hammer for firing. The firing spring base 20 has a lower tongue portion 21 which engages in an undercut notch (not shown) on the pivot pin 22, and also has a rear end 23 which bears downwardly on a shoulder 24 of the trigger, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rearwardly directed force of the firing spring on the firing spring base 20 tends to rock said base clockwise on its bearing on pivot 22 and thus cause the end 23 of said base to bear downwardly on the shoulder 24 of the trigger to thus return the trigger to its normal position after being pulled, similarly to the usual trigger spring action.

The safety device 25 (shown more clearly in Fig. 3) is pivoted on the pin 22 and has a projecting nose 26 which bears against cam surface 27 on the firing spring base in such a manner that the safety device will be yieldingly held in each of its two set positions,the off position shown in Fig. l, and the on position shown in Fig. 2. When the safety device is turned to its on position, it brings a shoulder 28 of its upper portion in blocking relation to a shoulder 29 of the trigger (as shown in Fig.

2) and thus prevents any possible movement of said trigger and sear for releasing the hammer.

In this way, the firing mechanism is effectively blocked from operation.

A lower portion 30 of the safety device is extended downwardly through a slotted portion of the trigger guard 2 and when the safety device is at its on position (as shown in Fig. 2) the portion 30 extends into the space normally occupied by the finger in pressing the trigger. This position of the portion 30 will serve as a Warning to the marksman that the safety is on when he attempts to place his finger on the trigger for firing. In other words, when the safety device is adjusted to off position, the extending portion 3 0-is substantially housed in the fore part of the trigger guard (as shown in Fig. 1) thus leaving the trigger guard opening free for the insertion of the finger in firing, but when adjusted to its on position the extension 30 sufficiently closes the trigger guard opening (as shown in Fig. 2) to thereby prevent the entrance of the finger therein for being placed infront of the trigger to fire. or knob 31 of said safety device is also provided which extends somewhat beyond the trigger guard ;2 when the safety device-is inits off position, -whereby a pressure backwardly thereon will set the safety device into its on position.

It will thus be seen that the safety device ,may be conveniently thrown to its on position bypressing backwardly on knob 31 and restored to its off position by pushing downwardly 0n the lower portion30 and that it is heldin either of its adjusted positions by the pressure of the firing base 20 bearing against the same through A forward knurled portion a its cam surface 27. It is simple and effective both in blocking the firing mechanism against action and in warning the marksman of its position.

What I claim is:

1. In a firearm the combination with a firing mechanism including a trigger and firing spring, of a safety device pivoted in the fore-part of the triggedguard for being adjusted into on and f nsitio s sa vi i el n i in a finger portion for extension into the space normally occupied by the finger in pressing the trigger, and also comprising a shoulder for blocking the firingrnechanism against firing movement, and a firing spring actuated member arranged to yieldingly hold said safety device in its adjusted positions.

' 2i In a firearm, the combination with a firing mechanism including a hammer, firing spring therefor "and a trigger, of a safety device mounted f g adius mse and 991 osit PUE ZKWFQ m ans f9?" 3 9952 5 In? .fil' l m hrenis ir m peret gn h nr diuste int t Oi PPSifi i g jp p h' s id Single firing sri ser e JQE N P- PE E SEN- said hammer, to return: 

